Patrick Kinahan: Retzlaff’s Exit Doesn’t Surprise BYU Football Coaches
Provo, UT – July 1, 2025
BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff entered the transfer portal Monday morning, ending a two-year run in Provo that once showed great promise but ultimately didn’t deliver the breakthrough he—or the program—had hoped for.
While some Cougar fans expressed shock on social media, those within the walls of the Student Athlete Building saw it coming. As columnist Patrick Kinahan notes, “Retzlaff’s departure is less of a surprise and more of an inevitability. The writing’s been on the wall for months.”
After transferring from Riverside City College in 2023, Retzlaff earned the starting job in the final stretch of the Cougars’ first Big 12 season, flashing dual-threat ability and leadership. But despite moments of brilliance—like his 300-yard performance in a narrow loss to Oklahoma—consistency remained elusive. His 2024 season saw him fall behind freshman sensation Tanner Briggs on the depth chart midway through fall camp, and whispers of a potential exit started then.
One source within BYU’s offensive staff told the Deseret News on condition of anonymity: “We love Jake’s competitiveness, but we had to be honest about where we’re heading. Briggs gives us more long-term upside. Retz knew that.”
Head coach Kalani Sitake, always measured in his public comments, offered a respectful but telling statement Monday:
“Jake gave everything he had to this program, and we’re grateful for his time here. Sometimes the best move for a player and a program is a fresh start.”
Behind closed doors, sources say the coaching staff had already shifted full focus to developing Briggs and redshirt freshman Kody Fano, who has quietly impressed in spring camp. Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick reportedly met with Retzlaff in early June to lay out a transparent picture of the quarterback room. That conversation, according to Kinahan’s report, “was cordial but direct—and likely sealed the decision.”
Retzlaff, 23, is expected to draw interest from several Group of Five schools and possibly a few Power Five programs seeking a veteran presence. San Diego State and Colorado State have both been mentioned as potential fits.
The bigger question for BYU: does this departure close the chapter on a brief but chaotic era in the Cougars’ quarterback room? From Jaren Hall to Kedon Slovis to Retzlaff, stability at the position has been fleeting. But with Briggs, who threw for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns as a high school senior in Texas, the staff feels they’ve finally found a foundation.
“This is part of the evolution,” Kinahan wrote. “BYU didn’t recruit over Retzlaff to be unkind—they did it to get better.”
As the Cougars look ahead to their third year in the Big 12, they do so with a younger, more stable core and a clear identity. For Retzlaff, his next stop will be another shot at proving he belongs as a starter.
But in Provo, the page has turned. And few inside the program are surprised.
Let me know if you want a version styled like a press release, player profile, or opinion column.
